Chapter XII.—The cross of Christ frequently announced in the Old Testament.

Chapter XII.—The cross of Christ frequently announced in the Old Testament.

In like manner He points to the cross of Christ in another prophet, who saith,¹⁶⁰⁵Cod. Sin. refers this to God, and not to the prophet. “And when shall these things be accomplished? And the Lord saith, When a tree shall be bent down, and again arise, and when blood shall flow out of wood.”¹⁶⁰⁶From some unknown apocryphal book. Hilgenfeld compares Hab. ii. 11. Here again you have an intimation concerning the cross, and Him who should be crucified. Yet again He speaks of this¹⁶⁰⁷Cod. Sin. reads, “He speaks to Moses.” in Moses, when Israel was attacked by strangers. And that He might remind them, when assailed, that it was on account of their sins they were delivered to death, the Spirit speaks to the heart of Moses, that he should make a figure of the cross,¹⁶⁰⁸Cod. Sin. omits “and.” and of Him about to suffer thereon; for unless they put their trust in Him, they shall be overcome for ever. Moses therefore placed one weapon above another in the midst of the hill,¹⁶⁰⁹Cod. Sin. reads πυγμῆς, which must here be translated “heap” or “mass.” According to Hilgenfeld, however, πυγμή is here equivalent to πυγμαχία, “a fight.” The meaning would then be, that “Moses piled weapon upon weapon in the midst of the battle,” instead of “hill” (πήγης), as above. and standing upon it, so as to be higher than all the people, he stretched forth his hands,¹⁶¹⁰Thus standing in the form of a cross. and thus again Israel acquired the mastery. But when again he let down his hands, they were again destroyed. For what reason? That they might know that they could not be saved unless they put their trust in Him.¹⁶¹¹Or, as some read, “in the cross.” And in another prophet He declares, “All day long I have stretched forth My hands to an unbelieving people, and one that gainsays My righteous way.”¹⁶¹²Isa. lxv. 2. And again Moses makes a type of Jesus, [signifying] that it was necessary for Him to suffer, [and also] that He would be the author of life¹⁶¹³Cod. Sin. has, “and He shall make him alive.” [to others], whom they believed to have destroyed on the cross¹⁶¹⁴Literally, “the sign.” when Israel was falling. For since transgression was committed by Eve through means of the serpent, [the Lord] brought it to pass that every [kind of] serpents bit them, and they died,¹⁶¹⁵Comp. Num. xxi. 6–9; John iii. 14–18. that He might convince them, that on account of their transgression they were given over to the straits of death. Moreover Moses, when he commanded, “Ye shall not have any graven or molten [image] for your God,”¹⁶¹⁶Deut. xxvii. 15. Cod. Sin. reads, “molten or graven.” did so that he might reveal a type of Jesus. Moses then makes a brazen serpent, and places it upon a beam,¹⁶¹⁷Instead of ἐν δοκῷ, “on a beam,” Cod. Sin. with other mss. has ἐνδόξως, “manifestly,” which is adopted by Hilgenfeld. and by proclamation assembles the people. When, therefore, they were come together, they besought Moses that he would offer sacrifice¹⁶¹⁸Cod. Sin. simply reads, “offer supplication.” in their behalf, and pray for their recovery. And Moses spake unto them, saying, “When any one of you is bitten, let him come to the serpent placed on the pole; and let him hope and believe, that even though dead, it is able to give him life, and immediately he shall be restored.”¹⁶¹⁹Num. xxi. 9. And they did so. Thou hast in this also [an indication of] the glory of Jesus; for in Him and to Him are all things.¹⁶²⁰Comp. Col. i. 16. What, again, says Moses to Jesus (Joshua) the son of Nave, when he gave him¹⁶²¹Cod. Sin. has the imperative, “Put on him;” but it is connected as above. this name, as being a prophet, with this view only, that all the people might hear that the Father would reveal all things concerning His Son Jesus to the son¹⁶²²Cod. Sin. closes the sentence with Jesus, and inserts, “Moses said therefore to Jesus.” of Nave? This name then being given him when he sent him to spy out the land, he said, “Take a book into thy hands, and write what the Lord declares, that the Son of God will in the last days cut off from the roots all the house of Amalek.”¹⁶²³Ex. xvii. 14. Behold again: Jesus who was manifested, both by type and in the flesh,¹⁶²⁴Comp. 1 Tim. iii. 16. is not the Son of man, but the Son of God. Since, therefore, they were to say that Christ was the son¹⁶²⁵That is, merely human: a reference is supposed to the Ebionites. of David, fearing and understanding the error of the wicked, he saith, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”¹⁶²⁶Ps. cx. 1; Matt. xxii. 43–45. And again, thus saith Isaiah, “The Lord said to Christ,¹⁶²⁷Cod. Sin. corrects “to Cyrus,” as LXX. my Lord, whose right hand I have holden,¹⁶²⁸Cod. Sin. has, “he has taken hold.” that the nations should yield obedience before Him; and I will break in pieces the strength of kings.”¹⁶²⁹Isa. xlv. 1. Behold how David calleth Him Lord and the Son of God.